HSHS EAST Program named nationwide finalist in technology competition; requests public support for "People's Choice" Award‏

Hot Springs High School EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technologies Lab) recently learned it has advanced to the final round as a finalist in the Samsung “Solve for Tomorrow” competition, which calls for student-created videos that use today’s technology to solve tomorrow’s problems.  Out of 1,600 competing EAST programs nationwide, HSHS is now in the top 15.

As a finalist, the EAST program will be awarded $40,000 in Samsung and Adobe technology products, and is also eligible for one of five $110,000 technology awards, including the “People’s Choice Award.” This award is given to the video garnering the most online votes.   The school is asking local residents’ help in winning the award by voting for them at the following Web site: www.samsung.com/solvefortomorrow .  Individuals can vote daily until March 4.

In December, a “perfect storm” resulted from collaborative efforts between HSHS EAST, the City of Hot Springs and American LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging).  Hot Springs Parks & Recreation Director Jean Wallace, who was asked by HSHS EAST Program Facilitator Michael Vincent for project ideas for the competition, suggested he contact Stormwater Manager Max Sestili regarding current analysis and data collection for planned improvements to Hot Springs Creek Tunnel.  In the meantime, Ron Harrison, owner of American LiDAR, a Hot Springs-owned laser imaging company, heard of the EAST students’ work with a 3-D printer they had built themselves.  Harrison proposed a partnership involving his super high-resolution 3-D scanner. Discussions resulted in Sestili’s arranging the students’ December visit to the tunnel, where they collected detailed images that will help the city carry out repairs and improvements while providing the students with invaluable hands-on learning experience benefiting their own community.